Folding shipping-crate



W. J. DONNELLY.

, FOLDING SHIPPING-CRATE. APPUCATION FILED MAY 2 1. 1920. 1,382,488. Patented June 21, 1921.

2 SHEETSSHEET l.

l Z I 2 Wise 2 10 1311 23 .'.I. DONNELLY. FOLDING SHIPPING cam. APPLICATION FILED MAY 21. I920.

Patented June 21, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- pair YATES @FFICE.

WILLIAM J. DONNELLY, 0F STDCKTON, CALIFORNIA.

FOLDING SZ-IIPEING-GBATE.

i 0 all to [mm it may concern:

Be it known that I, lVILLIAM J. DonNnLLY, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Stockton, in the county of San Joaquin and State of California, have in.- vented new and useful Lnprovements in Folding Shippingflrates, of which the fol lowing is a specification.

The objectof the invention is to provide a folding crate of comparatively simple and light structure for use in the shipment of poultry and other small stock to the end that when empty the receptacle may be disposed in convenient and compact form for return to the producer or dealer under conditions which will minimize the cost of transportation, and in this connection to provide a device of this class which will withstand the rough usage incident to transportation by freight and will therefore serve without substantial deterioration for repeated use in the shipment of produce to the market and with these objects in view the invention consists in a construction and combination of parts of which a preferred embodiment is shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a perspective view of the crate in its normal or carrying condition.

Fig. 2 is an edge view of the same as seen when folded.

Fig. 3 is a longitg dinal sectional view.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional. view.

Ifhe crate consists essentially of a bottom member 10 with which are foldably connected the end walls 11 by means of hinges 12 to the end that said end walls may fold inwardly into positions in parallelism with and inproximity to the bottom wall or member, side walls 13 and 14 connected with the bottom member respectively by hinges 15 and 16 and adapted'for inward folding movement also into parallelism with the bottom, and a top wall 17 hinged at one longitudinal edge as shown at 18 to the side wall 13 and adapted to fold downwardly and into contact with the inner surface of said side wall, to move with the latter into a position indicated in Fig. 2.

In order that the parts may be disposed when folded as indicated in the drawings, the hinge 16 by which the side wall 14: is connected with the bottom is of a double Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 21, 1921.

1920. Serial No. 384,568.

form having an intermediate link 19 which is adapted to swing outwardly with relation to the crate in positioning the wall 14 upon the upper surface of the inwardly folded end walls.

When set up as indicated in Figs. 1, 3 and 4 the several walls are held in. their proper relative position by tie bolts 20 and 21'disposed respectively at the sides and ends of the structure and terminally en aged with outwardly projecting cars 22 and 23 which are secured in pairs to the exterior surfaces of the bottom and top members as clearly shown in Fig. 1. Obviously. these ears are arranged to project beyond the outer surfaces of the corresponding side and end walls when. the crate is set up and the tie rods thus form guards or protectors for the walls when the crate is filled with produce for the market and in transit, and in order to fold the crate it is necessary that said rods be disengaged. In order that the cars which form the engaging means for the extremities of the tie rods may not be in the way in the folding of the crate however they are preferably pivotally mounted as shown at 24: respectively upon the top and bottom walls so that when. the tie rods are disengaged therefrom they may be swung laterally into positions within the contours of the side walls.

What is claimed is 1. A crate having hingedly connected bottom, side end and top walls of which the top and bottom walls are provided with pivotal ears for extension beyond the side and end edges thereof, and tie bolts terminally engaging said ears for holding the crate members in their operative positions.

2. A. shipping crate having a bottom wall, side and end walls hingedly mounted re spectively to the side and end edges of the bottom wall, and foldable inwardly with relation thereto, one of said side walls having a double hinge provided with an interme-* diate outwardly movable link, a top wall hingedly connected with the upper edge of one of the side walls and means for securing the-side walls in their normal operative relations.

In testimony whereof I affiX my signature.

WILLIAM J. DONNELLY. 

